December 27, 2013

ARTIST: various artistsTITLE: Angola Soundtrack 2: Hypnosis, Distortion & Other Sonic Inventions 1969-1978LABEL: Analog Africa
The subtitle of this disc is by no means inaccurate, but most important here is the date. These songs, so well composed and presented, so universally accessible today were recorded during the golden age of African music.

ARTIST: Fode BaroTITLE: La VeriteLABEL: Lusafrica
Guinean singer Fode Baro has been around for a long time. He is best known for his strong voice, but he is also known for being, like Salif Keita of Mali, a musician who comes from outside of the griot or jali caste.

ARTIST: Ze LuisTITLE: SerenataLABEL: Lusafrica
Jose Luis aka “Ze Luis” is a Cape Verdean singer of the generation of the late Cesaria Evora. Like Cesaria Evora, he is an incredibly strong and wonderfully expressive morna singer but he is also a gifted guitarist.

December 18, 2013

This week, it's the final episode of a three-part series covering my favorite world music recordings of 2013. And it's my final show of the year as well: tune in next week and hear Sean Lovelace of WRIR's superb late-night program Cosmic Slop do his thing in the early evening.

On this week's show, the focus is on individual songs -- my favorite singles of the year, top tracks from albums that didn't quite make my best-of lists, and great songs hidden on otherwise forgettable long-players. On a song-by-song basis, I think this week's material is every bit as good as the stuff you heard in the last two weeks -- tune in and decide for yourself.

December 11, 2013

It's time for part 2 of Global A Go-Go's three-part look back at my favorite world music releases of 2013. This time, we'll be focusing on compilations, reissues and historic recordings.

And it was a banner year in this category -- there are a number of excellent releases that couldn't crack my top ten or the ten additional honorable mentions. Which means I have lots of great material for you to hear on this week's program -- tune in and hear for yourself.

November 21, 2013

I'm featuring a set of one of my current pleasures, Turkish psychedelic rock from the 1970's, on this week's edition of Global A Go-Go. You'll hear a recent reissue by Alpay, two tracks from the legendary Baris Manco, and one by Derdiyoklar Ikilisi (pictured above), a band that knows how to travel in style.

Also this week: what's new in the world of Afropop, mo' Balkan beats, and salsa from around the world.

November 19, 2013

ARTIST: Mar SeckTITLE: Vagabonde: From Super Cap-Vert To Number OneLABEL: Teranga Beat
Mar Seck was a Senegalese singer who started his professional career at age 19 during a seminal stage in the development of modern African music. In the late 60s and early 70s, many African nations won their independence from European colonials. Traditional idioms across Africa were now supported, and in some cases mandated - as opposed to suppressed or swept aside - by the new African governments.

ARTIST: The LiberatorsTITLE: Power StruggleLABEL: Record Kicks
Afrobeat is popular all over the world these days, and Australia is no exception: in the last few years, we’ve heard a bunch of fine Aussie Afrobeat combos: the Shaolin Afronauts, Public Opinion Afro Orchestra and the Afrobiotics. Add The Liberators to that list.

"I have a VW Bug and a guitar / I'm for Flamengo and I have a black girl named Tereza / I'm a boy of average intelligence, that's right / But even so I am very happy, content, I don't owe anything to anybody"
Jorge Ben Jor, "Pais Tropical," 1969

Jorge Ben Jor (pictured above) is Brazil's everyman-poet, a man who's beyond legendary in his home country. He's on tour in the USA for the first time in eight years, and I'm looking forward to seeing him this Saturday at the Howard Theatre in DC. To get warmed up for the event, this week I'll spin a set of his tunes and a medley of covers as well.

November 7, 2013

How about a set of Balkan blasters this week? Como no! I'll be spinning some tunes that will have you up and spinning, including a pre-release from Kal (pictured above), one of my favorite bands from ex-Yugoslavia, and new ones by the Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra and from a pairing of France's Latcho Drom with Hungary's Parno Graszt.

I'll also have a ticket giveaway in which one lucky listener will win a pair of passes to see reggae legends Black Uhuru at the Southern in Charlottesville. More info here:

ARTIST: KalTITLE: RomologyLABEL: ARC
The third album from the Belgrade-based combo Kal (“black” in Romani, a word often used by Europeans to describe the Roma, Europe’s fastest-growing ethnic group) continues and expands their “rock ‘n’ Roma” sound.

ARTIST: Juana MolinaTITLE: Wed 21LABEL: Crammed Discs
Her sixth album and another stellar, solid release. Whereas her previous albums have been mostly loops and layers of her guitar and voice, mixed with various electronic pings and pongs, this one has taken on more instruments, samples and musicians.

VCUarts Music Department hosts a three-day festival of flamenco music and dance November 1-3 at the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts on VCU's campus

Klezmer and bluegrass virtuoso (no, that's not a typo) Andy Statman visits the University of Virginia's Old Cabell Hall on Tuesday November 5

Legendary Brazilian singer Jorge Ben Jor (pictured above) is on a rare USA tour which includes an appearance at DC's Howard Theatre on Saturday November 16

The Easy Star All-Stars celebrate the 10th anniversary of their album Dub Side Of The Moon (yes, an all-reggae Pink Floyd cover album) with a performance of the full album at the Hamilton in DC on Sunday November 24, featuring a live dub mix by Jesse (Dubmatix) King

Have an event you'd like me to include, or a suggestion for the concert calendar? Just drop me a line at globalagogoradio [at] gmail [dot] com, or leave me a message right here.

November 1, 2013

ARTIST: AlpayTITLE: YekteLABEL: Pharaway Sounds
Pharaway Sounds continues its excavation of 1970’s Turkish rock with this little gem of a compilation. Alpay is a singer from Ankara who was quite popular back then, mostly known for his pop and folk material. But the Anatolian psych-rock movement was so strong that it swept in artists from all styles.

ARTIST: Black BazarTITLE: Round 2LABEL: Lusafrica
“Black Bazar” is a concept as well as the name of a band of contemporary Congolese musicians. Like the concept, the band membership is not static. It changes to illustrate an idea. The goal is to present great modern Congolese music that reflects the influences of the day.

ARTIST: Omar SouleymanTITLE: Wenu WenuLABEL: Ribbon Music
Here’s the first studio album by one of the world’s most-recorded artists. Souleyman, a native of Syria currently living in Turkey, is the king of electronic dabke, a 21st century version of Syrian folk music where synthesizer replaces traditional instruments, beats are straightened out to four-on-the-floor, and tempos are frequently dialed up to 120 to 150 bpm’s.

October 31, 2013

Thank you to the 506 people who donated more than $40,000 so far during WRIR's Fall '13 Fund Drive. It's been a great success once again, thanks to you the listener -- you make this station possible, and we're so grateful for your support.

I said "so far" for a reason -- we're happy to continue accepting your donations, and providing you with some awesome donor premiums, even thought the drive is officially over. You can help take us to $41,000 and beyond by clicking and donating here:

And a special thank-you goes out to the 47 donors who named Global A Go-Go as one of their favorite WRIR programs. I'm flattered, and I owe all of you a great program this week -- hell, I owe you a great program every week.

October 24, 2013

WRIR's Fall '13 Fund Drive, now just past its midpoint, is shaping up as one of our most successful drives, both artistically and financially, to date.

On the financial side of things, we're well on our way toward raising the $40,000 we need in order to keep Richmond Independent Radio solvent and vibrant for the next six months. On the artistic side, I'd say that the programming (always good IMHO) has reached a new, higher level during the fund drive.

Especially noteworthy has been the remarkable number, variety and quality of live bands that have played in our Live Room, a facility built with money that folks like you have donated in our previous fund drives. And I'm going to raise the bar a notch with this week's show, which will feature a live performance by the band Rattlemouth (pictured above).

October 18, 2013

WRIR's Fall '13 Fund Drive kicks off today at 5 PM with a performance by the Richmanian Ramblers on Global A Go-Go. You can hear the kickoff event by tuning in to 97.3 FM at 5:00, or by listening to our internet live-stream at these web addresses (top for computers, bottom for smartphones):

I'm writing to encourage you to support Richmond Independent Radio during this drive, so let me start by thanking each of you who has donated in any of our previous fund drives. And thanks as well for your interest in WRIR and in my program -- it's truly appreciated.

You can donate by calling 804-622-9747, by visiting us in person at 1621-B West Broad Street in Richmond, or via our secure online donation site at:

October 17, 2013

ARTIST: Aberlardo CarbonoTITLE: El Maravilloso Mundo De Abelardo Carbono: Psychedelia, Afroroots & Champeta In 1980s BarranquillaLABEL: Vampisoul
There’s a massive re-examination of Colombian music now underway, spurred by the work of crate-diggers who are unearthing a trove of fabulous recordings to which the rest of the world had, until recently, paid scant attention. Add Abelardo Carbono to that list.

ARTIST: various artistsTITLE: Peru Maravilloso: Vintage Latin, Tropical And CumbiaLABEL: Tiger’s Milk
There’s more to Peruvian music than chicha – that’s one of the messages of this fine debut compilation from Tiger’s Milk Records, an outgrowth of London Peruvian restaurant Ceviche. This is a well-researched look at the Latin and tropical sounds of 60s and 70s Peru, with none of the tracks re-released since their original local pressings.

October 3, 2013

The Richmond Folk Festival is an amazing event, but it can be kind of daunting -- 200,000 or so attendees, 34 performers, seven stages with acres of fried food on a stick between them. How's a person to decide which artists to see and where to catch them, while avoiding walking 100 miles, getting stuck in pedestrian traffic, or ending up several football fields from the stage?

Well, I'm here to offer a few tips -- on this week's program I'll play the seven artists (world music division, naturally) that I'm personally most eager to see at this year's festival, which takes place next weekend, October 11-13.

I'm hoping you'll hear something you absolutely, positively want to check out in person as well. Put that act at the center of your schedule, then work around them. Think of it as Global A Go-Go's very particular guide to the Richmond Folk Festival. You're welcome.

ARTIST: BoogarinsTITLE: As Plantas Que Curam (Plants That Heal)LABEL: Other Music
There’s a major psychedelic rock revival going on right now (check out WRIR’s “Sunrise Ocean Bender” program for all the details), and here’s a DIY recording from central Brazil that’s a prime example.

Like many Richmonders, I block out the entire weekend of the Richmond Folk Festival each October (this year, it's the 11th through the 13th) knowing there will be many, many artists I want to see at this fabulous free festival. This fall's lineup is one of the best ever, featuring Honduran Garifuna superstar (and congressman!) Aurelio Martinez, extraordinary Malian singer Abdoulaye "Djoss" Diabate, Christine Salem from tiny La Reunion in the Indian Ocean, and salsa giants the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (pictured above).

Antibalas, America's finest Afrobeat orchestra, make a stop in DC at the Black Cat on Thursday October 3

Yeni Turku, the popular and successful Turkish folk-rock band, come to Tropicalia in Washington on Thursday October 10

Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure (son of Ali), who wowed Richmond audiences at the Folk Festival a few years ago, plays at DC's Atlas Performing Arts Center on Friday October 11

Have an event you'd like me to include, or a suggestion for the concert calendar? Just drop me a line at globalagogoradio [at] gmail [dot] com, or leave me a message right here.

September 26, 2013

ARTIST: AfricandoTITLE: Viva AfricandoLABEL: Sterns
If you’re an African of a certain age (about my age, in fact) and you’re a music fan, then you’re probably a salsa fan. Africando has been making best-of-breed salsa Africana for 20 years now; this is their eighth album and it’s more of the same, which is to say a great source of pleasure.

ARTIST: Boban & Marko Markovic OrchestraTITLE: Gipsy ManifestoLABEL: Piranha
The orchestra of Serbia’s Boban Markovic is one of the bands that put the exhilarating, improvisational, funky sound of Balkan brass on the world’s musical map. And much of the popularity of Balkan brass comes from the DJs and remixers who add four-on-the-floor dance beats and mash it up with every sound under the sun – especially in Europe, nothing gets the dance floor percolating better than “Balkan beats.”

ARTIST: various artistsTITLE: Red Hot + FelaLABEL: Knitting Factory
This is the Red Hot Organization’s second Fela-themed AIDS benefit album – Red Hot + Riot came out in 2002, and as Fela’s notoriety has grown exponentially since then, it’s only natural that all kinds of musicians are clamoring to take on his songs. Like all tribute albums, the results are hit-and-miss: the news item here is that the hits are truly remarkable re-imaginings.

ARTIST: Rokia TraoreTITLE: Beautiful AfricaLABEL: Nonesuch
This is the fifth album by Rokia Traore, the restlessly experimental, shape-shifting Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. This time out it’s Rokia the rocker – the project was recorded in Bristol, England, produced by John Parish (P.J. Harvey), and it positively throbs with electric energy.

Balkan brass band music continues to evolve -- the latest step along the long road comes from the orchestra led by the father-son team of Boban & Marko Markovic (pictured above). Boban brings deep gypsy soul and jazz improvisation; Marko adds a young virtuoso's chops and a slew of 21st century influences, from New Orleans to electronica to (Tito forbid) turbo-folk.

The new Markovic Orchestra album Gipsy Manifesto will be in stores on October 29 -- you'll hear a track from it this week on Global A Go-Go.

Also this week: Fela with strings; new global rock by Andrea Echeverri (Colombia), Boogarins (Brazil) and Rokia Traore (Mali); and salsa is the universal language of groove.

September 19, 2013

ARTIST: Sidi ToureTITLE: AlafiaLABEL: Thrill Jockey
Sidi Toure is a Songhai singer-songwriter-guitarist from Gao in northern Mali. That one-sentence biography should put Ali Farka Toure (no relation) in mind, and indeed there are striking similarities. But Sidi’s his own man with his own sound, even more so on this third international release for Thrill Jockey than previously.

The Women, War & Peace Conference, focusing on Mali, is taking place this weekend at VCU's Student Commons. It's jointly produced by VCU, the Richmond Peace Education Center, Virginia Friends of Mali and the Richmond Sister Cities Commission. The conference includes lectures, workshops, film screenings, music and more; you can find further information about it here:

I thought I'd participate in my own way by playing a set of recent Malian recordings, all made since the March 2012 military coup and the subsequent Islamist offensive, all of which have to do with women, war and peace. While Mali struggles to find peace, stability and prosperity, musicians like Rokia Traore (pictured above), Bassekou Kouyate and Tamikrest are making some of the world's most compelling recordings. Hear for yourself, this week on Global A Go-Go.

September 13, 2013

Klezmer band The Vulgar Bulgars, the pride of Twin Oaks, make a rare Richmond appearance at Crossroads Coffee on Friday September 6

The wide-ranging lineup for the first annual Fall Line Fest includes the atmospheric electronica and Spanish-language vocals of Helado Negro on Saturday September 7, plus Richmond's own Rattlemouth and The Richmanian Ramblers on Friday September 6

Two really unique African bands on a double bill at Artispher in Arlington on Saturday September 14: Tal National from Niger and Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang from Sierra Leone

The brilliant British folk-rock singer, songwriter and (especially) guitarist Richard Thompson visits the Birchmere in Alexandria on September 21 and 22

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, whose new album is a WRIR New & Recommended selection, will be at the Howard Theatre in Washington on Friday September 27

The now-nomadic Festival In The Desert, displaced from home by war in Mali, makes a stop in Washington DC on Sunday September 29 at Tropicalia (pictured above), featuring the amazing Mauritanian singer Noura Mint Seymali

Have an event you'd like me to include, or a suggestion for the concert calendar? Just drop me a line at globalagogoradio [at] gmail [dot] com, or leave me a message right here.

September 12, 2013

ARTIST: various artistsTITLE: Afrobeat Airways 2: Return Flight To Ghana 1974-1983LABEL: Analog Africa
It’s another gem of a compilation from Samy Ben Redjeb’s Analog Africa, a label that can seemingly do no wrong. This time the focus is on Ghana – there are off-the-run tracks from better-known artists like The African Brothers and K. Frimpong, and highlights from some of the more obscure acts in Ghana’s deep Afro-funk scene.

ARTIST: Freedom FamilyTITLE: AyentsooLABEL: Academy LPs
Frank Gossner (Voodoo Funk) and Academy LPs have another winner in this choice slab of Ghanaian Afro-funk. The Freedom Family was one of West Africa’s tightest combos, although this is the only LP they ever waxed under that name.

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GLOBAL A GO-GO'S HOST

... hosts Global A Go-Go, a weekly two-hour world music radio program that originates in the studios of WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio. Bill is also WRIR's Assistant Music Director for World Music.